Meyu Changkiri
When we were children in church during Palm Sunday, we were often encouraged to shout “Hosanna, Hosanna” during Children’s Service. It was meant to help us remember Palm Sunday, but I must admit, I did not always enjoy it. Repeating the words felt more like an activity than an expression of understanding.
Yet there was a song we used to sing - “I will sing Hosanna” - that I truly appreciated. Somehow, through the song, the words felt more personal and meaningful.
As I grew older, my understanding began to deepen. Palm Sunday was no longer just about saying or singing “Hosanna,” but about recognising who Jesus truly is. And in that journey, I began to see myself in a different way - not as part of the crowd, but like the donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem.
There was nothing remarkable about that donkey. It had no status, no strength to boast of, no significance of its own. Yet it was chosen, prepared, and used for a divine purpose. The donkey was not remarkable because of what it was, but because of whom it carried.
In the same way, I began to realise that whatever grace, favour, or meaning I experience in life is not because of who I am, but because of Christ in me. It is His presence that gives value, His purpose that gives direction, and His grace that makes the ordinary meaningful.
In every generation, communities are faced with questions about leadership and the future. Such moments reveal what a society values most - infrastructure development, influence, security, or change. Yet Palm Sunday challenges these assumptions. The crowd welcomed Jesus as King, but they misunderstood the kind of King He was. They looked for power, but He came in humility. They expected control, but He offered service.
What began as celebration would soon turn into rejection. The same voices that cried “Hosanna” would later call for crucifixion. Palm Sunday therefore reveals not only the nature of Christ’s kingship, but also the fragile and shifting nature of human expectation.
And so it asks a question that remains urgent in every generation: do we truly recognise the kind of leadership that is worthy of our trust - and do we truly understand the King we claim to follow?
The King They Did Not Understand
Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, recorded in all four Gospels (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19). This was not a casual arrival, but a deeply symbolic and prophetic act. Jesus entered the city riding on a donkey, fulfilling the vision of a King who comes in humility: “See, your king comes to you… humble and riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
The crowd responded with excitement. Cloaks were spread on the road, palm branches were waved, and voices cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” It was a moment of celebration filled with hope.
Yet beneath the celebration lay a misunderstanding. Many expected a political deliverer who would overthrow oppression and restore power. Jesus, however, came not to claim a throne, but to carry a cross. His mission was not to defeat earthly powers, but to conquer sin and bring salvation.
Symbols of Praise, Signs of Misunderstanding
Palm branches symbolised victory, honour, and joy. By waving them, the crowd publicly declared Jesus as King. But their understanding of His kingship was limited.
They longed for immediate deliverance from political oppression and hardship, while Jesus came to bring a deeper freedom - from sin, fear, and death itself. They celebrated Him for what they expected Him to do, not for who He truly was.
This tension still speaks today. It is possible to honour Christ outwardly while misunderstanding Him inwardly. Palm Sunday reminds us that true faith requires not only praise, but understanding.
Different Practices, One Message
The observance of Palm Sunday dates back to the early centuries of the Church. Over time, different Christian traditions have developed varied ways of remembering this event.
Some follow structured liturgical expressions with processions and readings, while others emphasise Scripture, preaching, and congregational worship. In many churches, palm branches are distributed as a symbolic reminder of the biblical account.
Despite these differences, the central message remains unchanged: Jesus Christ is the King who comes in humility, and His path to glory leads through the cross.
From Celebration to the Cross
Palm Sunday is closely connected with the reading of the Passion - the account of Jesus’ suffering, trial, and crucifixion. In this, Christ fulfilled the path of humble obedience described in Scripture: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). This reminds us that His true victory is not found in public praise, but in sacrificial love.
Within a matter of days, the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” would cry out, “Crucify Him.” Their response reveals how easily faith can be shaped by expectation rather than conviction.
This is a timeless warning. It is easy to follow Christ when He aligns with our desires, but much harder to remain faithful when His ways challenge us. Palm Sunday becomes a mirror, inviting us to examine the depth of our faith.
Palm Sunday and Our Times
Palm Sunday continues to speak powerfully into contemporary life. In a world that often celebrates power, success, and influence, Jesus presents a different model of leadership - one marked by humility, integrity, and service.
In a time when communities are called to make important public decisions, this message carries particular weight. Moments of choosing leadership reveal not only our preferences, but our values.
Palm Sunday reminds us that true leadership is not defined by position or popularity, but by character and responsibility. Jesus entered Jerusalem not to assert control, but to give Himself. His life challenges both leaders and citizens to pursue what is right, to act with integrity, and to place the well-being of others above personal gain.
At the same time, the response of the crowd offers a sobering lesson. Their praise was sincere, yet not deeply rooted. When expectations were not met, their voices quickly changed. This calls for discernment. Decisions must not be shaped merely by emotion or immediate advantage, but by conviction, wisdom, and a commitment to what is good and just.
This is also a moment that calls for unity and grace. Where there has been loss, there must be respect. Where there are differences, there must be patience. The way we engage in such times reflects not only our civic responsibility, but also our moral and spiritual values.
Rather than offering simple answers, moments like these invite deeper reflection. They call us to examine the values that guide our choices, the convictions that shape our decisions, and the kind of character we are willing to affirm and uphold. Palm Sunday does not direct us toward systems or outcomes, but toward Christ - the King who redefines leadership through humility, truth, and sacrificial love. In looking to Him, our understanding is shaped, our conscience is formed, and our lives are guided toward what is right and faithful.
In this generation, Palm Sunday is especially important because we live in a world that is often shaped by noise, speed, image, and instant reaction. We are constantly encouraged to admire what is impressive, powerful, and popular. Yet Palm Sunday reminds us that what is most valuable is not always what appears strongest. It teaches us to look deeper - to recognise humility, integrity, truth, and sacrificial love. In a time when many are uncertain about whom to trust and what to believe, Palm Sunday calls us to return to Christ, whose life still shows us what true leadership and faithful living look like.
Ultimately, Palm Sunday invites us to examine not only who we follow, but also the values we uphold. It calls us to embody humility, responsibility, and faithfulness in both personal and public life.
A Call to Follow, Not Just to Praise
Palm Sunday does not leave us as spectators; it calls for a response. It brings us face to face with the King of Humility and confronts us with a truth that cannot be ignored.
It reminds us that it is possible to honour Christ publicly and yet misunderstand Him personally; to offer praise with our lips while resisting His way in our lives.
The movement from “Hosanna” to “Crucify” is not only a historical shift - it is a human tendency. It warns us against a faith shaped by convenience, emotion, or expectation. Instead, it calls us to a faith rooted in conviction, sustained by understanding, and expressed through obedience.
The King who entered Jerusalem did not come to fulfil human demands, but to accomplish God’s redemptive purpose. His humility was not weakness, but strength rightly expressed. His path was shaped not by public approval, but by unwavering obedience.
In a world that often equates leadership with power, Palm Sunday offers a necessary correction. Jesus Himself taught, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43-45). It calls us to value humility over dominance, integrity over influence, and service over self-interest.
Ultimately, Palm Sunday points us beyond the crowd to the cross, and beyond the cross to redemption. It calls us not merely to admire Christ, but to follow Him; not merely to celebrate Him, but to be transformed by Him.
For the King of Humility still comes - not to compel, but to call. And the question remains: will we only welcome Him, or will we truly follow Him?
